Audi Introduces Two New "Vision Gran Turismo" Cars, Including the First One to Drive on a Real-World Race Track

On April 9, Audi hosted an event at the Audi Driving Experience Center located just outside Ingolstadt, Germany, where the company revealed its new "Vision Gran Turismo" cars. Also on this day, both cars became available to drive virtually as part of an update for"Gran Turismo Sport."

The "Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo" offers a glimpse into the future of racing with its sharp, aerodynamic design paying homage to the famous Audi 90 IMSA GTO that raced in the 1989 North American IMSA series.

Sketch of the "Audi Vision Gran Turismo" next to the iconic Audi 90 IMSA GTO from the 1989 North American IMSA series.

There are two versions of this new conceptual racecar from Audi. The one with the blacked-out grille is the base Audi Vision Gran Turismo, powered by a hybrid power unit that combines a turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6 engine, which powers the rear wheels, and an electric motor that drives the front wheels. Together, they produce a total of 950 kW (1292 ps).

Audi Vision Gran Turismo

Audi Vision Gran Turismo

Audi Vision Gran Turismo

Audi Vision Gran Turismo

The other model is the Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo, a pure EV. This car can be visually distinguished from its stablemate by its white front grille. With a single 200 kW motor in front and two at the rear, the Audi e-tron is rated at 600 kW (815 ps).

Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo

Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo

Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo

Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo

Another ground breaking feature of this car is that it is the first Vision Gran Turismo model to drive on a real-world race track. The prototype revealed at the event will perform demo runs at the Formula E Rome GP held on April 13 and 14, as well as at the Nürburgring 24-hour race and the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

A moment from the test drive.

A moment from the test drive.

Kazunori Yamauchi first visited Audi with the concept of Vision Gran Turismo back in February 2013. Audi enthusiastically agreed to participate in the project and spent the next five years developing the full-fledged racecar. The track-ready Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo is a major milestone and accomplishment in the history of Vision Gran Turismo.